Electric locks



Jan. 13, 1959 c. MEYER 2,868,905

' ELECTRIC LOCKS Filed March 15, 1957 INVENTOR. LOUIS 6. Meyer ATTORNEYUnited rates Pate ELECTRIC LUCKS Louis C. Meyer, Morrison, Colo.Application March 15, 1957, Serial No. 646,433

' 6 Claims. (Cl. 200-42) This invention relates to what might be termedan electric lock, that is, a circuit-closing switch which will close anelectric circuit only when the proper circuitclosing key is inserted inthe lock. It is more particularly intended for use as an ignition lockfor automotive vehicles, but will be found useful wherever it is desiredto prevent unauthorized circuit closing.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple,economical, and highly eflicient keyoperated circuit-closing switchwhich can be preset or preconnected so that it will close a circuit onlywhen a proper circuit-closing key is inserted, and to so construct thelocks that each lock of a plurality of similar locks can be preset orpreconnected so that each lock will require its own individual key foractuation, and so that the key of one lock will not actuate anotherlock.

Another object is to provide an electric lock in which the actuatingcombination can be quickly and easily changed at any time should it bedesired to render a formerly proper key useless, and to so construct thelock that a signal device or circuit breaker will be actuated should anattempt be made to actuate the lock without the proper key.

A further object is to incorporate in an automotive ignition lock meansfor actuating the engine-starting motor and magnetic means for retainingthe key in place.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail constr-uction of theinvention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efliciency.These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is hadto the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numeralsrefer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout thedescription.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the improved electric lock illustrating it inplace in a conventional instrument panel;

Fig. 2 is a front face view of the improved lock;

Fig. 3 is a side view of a key designed to actuate the lock;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the key of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the improved lockwith the key partially in position therein; and

Fig. 6 is a circuit diagram illustrating the improved lock in circuitwith the circuits of an automotive vehicle.

Briefly, the improved lock provides a plurality of contacts, onlypredetermined ones of which close a desired circuit. The correct keywill electrically connect the proper contacts, an incorrect key will notmake the proper connection. The correct contacts are chosen andpreconnected in advance to correspond to a certain key. The lock can bearranged so that if incorrect contacts are contacted, a circuit breakeror signal device will be actuated to give a warning.

The improved electric lock comprises a cylindrical lock barrel 10 havingan internal insulating core 11 containing a plurality of spaced-apart,parallel, longitudinally extending electrical conductors 12 embeddedtherein. The forward extremities of the conductors 12 are exposed flushwith the front of the core 11 and extend rearwardly from the core toprovide terminals to which circuit wires may be soldered or otherwiseconnected.

The forward extremity of the barrel 10 is provided with a stop flange 13which can be clamped against the face of an instrument panel, such asindicated at 14, by means of a clamp nut 15 threaded on the exterior ofthe barrel. The insulating core 11 is inset from the forward extremityof the barrel to provide a key-receiving socket 16, and the innersurface of the barrel at the for ward extremity is beveled, as shown at17, to guide a key into the key-receiving socket 16. An annularpermanent magnet 18 is fixedly attached to and surrounds the stop flange13.

The key comprises a key block 19' of electrical-insulating material,such as plastic, having a projecting circular boss 20 adapted to slideinto the key socket 16 of the lock. The boss is provided with projectingkeys 21 extending longitudinally of its outer surface and adapted toenter registering key grooves 22 in the wall of the key socket 16 sothat only the correct key can be insorted in the socket.

A steel sleeve 23, corresponding in diameter to the ring magnet 18,surrounds the key block 19. The sleeve 23 extends rearwardly from thekey block and terminates inan inwardly extending terminal flange 24which re tains a circular key base 25 in place in spaced relation to therear face of the block 19. A key tab 26 is formed on the key base 24 andextends rearwardly therefrom through the sleeve 23.

The key base 25 is provided with an annular guide flange 45 which slidesin a circular guide groove in the key block to guide the inward andoutward movement of the key base 25.

A compression spring 27 fits into and extends from a metallic spring cup28 slidably mounted in the key block IQ and surrounds a tubular,cup-like, metallic spring guide 29 on the key base 25 so as toconstantly urge the key base outwardly from the key block andsimultaneously urge the spring cup inwardly into the key block.

A centrally positioned starter stud 30 is soldered or otherwise afiixedin electrical contact with the bottom of the spring guide 29. Thestarter stud extends slidably through the key block 19 to the forwardface thereof and normally terminates substantially flush with thelatter.

Two contact pins 31 are soldered or otherwise electrically mounted onthe bottom of the spring cup 28 and extend through the key block andproject from the rear face thereof. The contact pins 31 are accuratelypositioned relative to the conductors 12 and to the projecting keys 21so that when the key is in position they will align with a certainpredetermined two of the conductors 12. The starter stud 30 is alsoaccurately positioned to align with one of the conductors 12. Asillustrated, the stud 30 aligns with the central conductor 12.

When installed in an automotive vehicle, all of the conductors 12 whichdo not align with the pins 31 and the stud 30 are grounded by means of aground conductor 32. A signal device of an audible or visual nature maybe connected in series with the ground conductor 32, as shown at 33 inFig. 6.

One of the conductors which is in alignment with one of the pins 31,such as indicated at A in Fig. 6, is-connected by means of an ignitionconductor 46 with the live side of the ignition system, which isdiagrammatically 3 indicated at 34. The other side of the ignitionsystem is grounded, as indicated at 35.

The conductor 12 which aligns with the other pin 31, indicated at inPig. 6, is connected by means of a battery conductor 36 with one side ofthe automotive battery, indicated at 37. The other side of the batteryis grounded, as indicated at 38.

Erie central conductor 12 which aligns with the starter stud 30,indicated at C in 6, is connected by means of a starter co lnctor withthe auto starter set. 49 of the vehicle. The other side of the solenoide is grounded, as shown at ll. The solenoid, when energized, serves toclose a ground circuit 42 to the engine starter motor The other side ofthe starter motor circuit is connected to the battery 37, as shown Letus assume that the operator has the correct lacy and that the circularboss 2% of the key is inserted in of the lock. The key is rotated untilthe p" ,'.c g keys 21 thereof enter the key grooves 2 in the wall 0socket 16. The key is now forced forvarii u-.til the sleeve 23 ismagnetically attached to the r ng magnet 18. As the key moves forwardly,the forward extremities of the contact pins 31 will close circuits withthe preselected conductors l2, and as the lacy move further forward, thekey block 1% will slide forward on the pins 31 and about the spring cup28, compressing the spring 27 so that the contacts are resilientlymaintained while the sleeve 23 is in magnetic engagement with the magnet18.

The circuit to the ignition system is now closed by the bridging effectof the pins 3i and the metal spring cup 23.

The operator now pushes the key tab 26 forwardly, causing the starterstud 30 to be projected forwardly into electrical contact with theconductor to close a circuit to the starter solenoid dd from theconductor 13, the spring cup 28, the spring 27, he spring guide 29, andthe starter stud so as to start the engine.

Should an unauthorized person attempt to bridge the contacts to closethe ignition circuit, the attempts will result in bridging the conductorB to one of the many grounded contacts so as to ground the system andoperate the warning signal 33. if preferred, the warning signal may beomitted and the ground wire 32 connected directly to the ground so thattampering will result in a blown fuse or circuit breaker.

There may be any number and arrangement of the conductors so that amultitude of differing combinations of the two active conductors may bemade. As illustrated, there are 62 of the conductors, one of which is inthe starter circuit, leaving 61 conductors. Since any two of the 61conductors may be selected as the key circuit, 1730 difierentarrangements of the two contact pins 31 are possible, with the 1730 keysall having the same arrangement of projecting keys 211 and key grooves22.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described andillustrated herein, it is to be understood that the same may be varied,within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from thespirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired securedby Letters Patent is:

l. A key-operated circuit-closing switch comprising a lock barrel, acylindrical insulating core disposed within said barrel and having oneend thereof disposed inwardly of the corresponding end of said barrelproviding a key block-receiving socket, said end of said core having aplurality of electrical contacts lying in a common plane, an electriccircuit including two of said conta ts, and a key including an insulatedblock movable in said socket axially of said core, cooperating guidemeans on said barrel and said block for confining the latter to axialmovement in said socket, and conductor means car l by said block andadapted to brid e said two CCI"E upon the axial movement of the blockwithin said socket.

2. The structure according to claim 1, tog her with a key base outwardlyof said block and engaged herewith for axial movement, and spring meansdisprre between said block and said key base normally holding the latterin retracted position relative to the block.

3. The structure according to claim 2, wherein said barrel is providedwith an annular permanent magnet, a magnet attractable metallic sleevesurrounding said block, said key base having a circular flange, and saidsleeve having an inwardly directed flange engaged with saidaforementioned flange for limiting the outward movement of said key baseunder the action of said spring means.

4. The structure according to claim 3, wherein a by tab projectsoutwardly from the circular flange.

5. The structure according to claim 2, wherein said key block and saidkey base have a dovetail slidable connection.

6. The structure according to claim 2, together with a metallic cupdisposed within said block, a spring guide disposed within said base andbeing provided with a starter stud movable through an aperture in saidblock and being adapted to engage a starter circuit-controlling contacton said end of said core.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

